TOTE delays LNG retrofit in wake of El Faro disaster

The demise of the El Faro has forced US shipowner TOTE to shuffle its fleet priorities. A ship that was planned to go for a retrofit to use LNG as a fuel has been drafted into work as the line deals with having one less ship.

The Midnight Sun had been scheduled to head to Singapore for a four-month conversion to LNG. This retrofit is now on hold for a year with TOTE negotiating with the US Coast Guard to keep trading with the Midnight Sun as is, despite new ECA regulations in place.

The US Navy, meanwhile, has located the remains of El Faro in 15,000 ft of water east of the Bahamas. The ship sank on October 1 as a hurricane lashed the region with the loss of all 33 crewmembers.

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.